Ten Smart Ways to Avoid Identity Theft

The phone rings and it’s a collection agency demanding payment on an overdue account you did not know you had. Or perhaps you notice purchases on your credit card statement that you didn’t make. Identity theft can happen to anyone, suggests the California Society of CPAs, and it’s important to take steps to protect personal information.

Identity theft occurs when someone uses your personal identifying information without your permission. The thief might obtain credit or open bank accounts in your name, make purchases using your credit card or even acquire a fake driver’s license or Social Security card in your name. Here are 10 steps you can take to help prevent you from becoming a victim of identity theft.

1. Guard Your Social Security Number

Give out your Social Security number only when absolutely necessary or when required by law. Everyone ages 25 and older can expect to receive a Social Security statement in the mail each year. Check it thoroughly for any discrepancies.

2. Memorize PIN Numbers

When creating passwords or personal identification numbers (PINs), do not use the last four digits of your Social Security number, your birthday, your mother’s maiden name or anything else that could easily be discovered by thieves. And don’t write down your PINs or passwords. Instead, commit them to memory.

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4. Carry A Minimum of Personal Information

Don’t carry extra credit cards, your Social Security card, birth certificate or passport in your wallet or purse, unless you need it. As a precaution, make copies of your credit cards, and record your bank and investment account numbers. Keep this information in a secure place, along with the telephone numbers for customer service or the fraud department for each, so you can quickly notify them if an issue arises.

5. Monitor Bank Statements and Credit Card Bills

Thoroughly check your credit card and bank statements each month for unauthorized or fraudulent activity. You should also pay attention to your billing cycles, and follow up with your bank or creditors if bills or statements don’t arrive on time. A missing bill or statement could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.

6. Secure Your Mail

Identity thieves have been known to raid mailboxes for personal information. Promptly remove delivered mail from your mailbox. Deposit outgoing mail in post office mailboxes or at your local post office, rather than leaving it in your mailbox. If you will be away from home for an extended time, ask the post office to hold your mail.

7. Treat Personal Information With Care

Don’t divulge personal information on the phone or the Internet, unless you have initiated the contact and know the company is reputable.

8. Install a Firewall

A firewall on your computer may help to prevent hackers from obtaining personal identifying information and financial data from your hard drive. And before disposing of your computer, remove data by using a strong “wipe” utility program. Don’t rely solely on the delete function to remove files containing sensitive information.

9. Check your credit report

Review your credit report at least once a year to check for errors and fraudulent use of your account. Consumers can now get a free copy of their credit report annually. To order your free report, go to annualcreditreport.com.

10. Consult With a CPA

If you think your identity has been stolen, a CPA can help you take steps to remedy the problem.

In accordance with IRS Circular 230, the information on this website is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used as or considered a "covered opinion" or other written tax advice and should not be relied upon for the purpose of avoiding tax-related penalties under the Internal Revenue Code; promoting, marketing, or recommending to another party any transaction or tax-related matter(s) addressed herein; for IRS audit, tax dispute or other purposes.